‘Mega’ boost to Congress, Party workers meet kindles Congress hope of survival

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 22, 2014: After drawing a damp squib in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram on day one of the state Congress leaders Bus Yatra, Vizag party workers meet on Saturday rekindled little hope of party’s survival in the district.

Both APPCC chief Raghuveera Reddy, union tourism minister and AP Congress campaign committee, chief, K Chiranjeevi launched a broadside attack on all the opposition parties, including chief of newly launched Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP), N Kiran Kumar Reddy, for their role in dividing the state, at a well attended party workers meet held at Indira Priyadarshini municipal stadium.

In a scathing attack, both the Congress leaders found fault with 7 MLAs and 2 MPs from the district, especially Purandheswari for enjoying power for 10 years and then for dumping the Congress, by jumping the fence overnight after the election schedule was announced.

Raghuveera Reddy termed the forthcoming polls as war for righteousness and Congress leaders as Pandavas and all the other opposition leaders as Kauravas. “I was hurt when the erstwhile PRP MLAs left Congress. It’s very sad that Purandheswari, who was union minister twice, enjoyed power for all these years and left the Congress to join BJP, which had supported state division. Kiran Kumar Reddy kept every one of us in dark. He knows about the decision of state division before anyone knows in the party. Only to save his chair, Kiran Reddy, opposed package to Telangana earlier and which forced the Congress to take decision in favour of state bifurcation after all the political parties gave their consent,” said Chiranjeevi.

He added that both YSRC and TD chiefs gave letters to the union home minister in support of state division. Chiranjeevi said now, in the guise of Samaikyandhra slogan, both Jagan and Kiran are misleading public.

 Raghuveera Reddy questioned TD chief Chandrababu Naidu how can his party ally with BJP that supported and played it’s part in state bifurcation. “TD after it severed ties with BJP led NDA in 2004 has unanimously resolved not to ally with the saffron party ever. But now extending its arms to BJP only for power,” said Reddy.

Earlier talking at a meet the press organised by Vizag Journalists Forum (VJF), the APPCC chief said they are working hard to win 25 loksabha and 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh and saw an opportunity in division for the development of both coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

He said Congress party would make the state ‘Navyandhra Pradesh’ if voted to power with the provisions of AP Reoarganisation Act of 2014. He further added that the party has received around 130 applications from the aspirants for 15 assembly and 2 loksabha seats in the district. Reddy added that, it’s an opportunity for youngsters, committed second rung leaders to become tomorrow’s leaders.